ABILENE, Texas -- The LeTourneau men's soccer team advanced past No.1 seeded Mary Hardin-Baylor to make its second ASC tournament championship game in three years. After forcing a 0-0 draw through regulation, and two golden goal overtime periods the YellowJackets were able to send the Cru packing advancing through penalty kicks, 4-1. 

Defense was the name of the game in this ASC tournament semifinal match as neither team was able to find the back of net. Edson Camara Martinez recorded his sixth shutout of the campaign, coming up with four monumental saves for LeTourneau. 

Kristian Princ, Bridger Roberdeau, Karson Johnson, and Nate Bransford made key defensive plays in two overtime periods to keep the Cru off the scoreboard and force the match to penalty kicks. 

But before the shootout period could begin was a crucial coin toss to determine who would shoot first. The coin toss was won by LeTourneau, further shifting the momentum in their favor. 

Taking penalty kicks for LeTourneau was Emad Mohamed, Caleb Bransford, Diego Enriquez, and Ethan Carrillo. Between the posts for the YellowJackets in the shootout was Octavio Jacquez. 

Stepping up for first for the Jackets to take the most important shot of the season up to this point, as seeing the ball fly past the keeper in a shootout is the ultimate momentum swing. Mohamed seized the momentum ripping the ball past the outstretched arms of the keeper to once again deliver in the clutch for LeTourneau. Just like he did during their run to the championship in 2022. 

Pressure mounting the Cru missed their first penalty kick wide left. 

Shooting second for LeTourneau was Caleb Bransford, who came up clutch firing his shot into the goal, giving the YellowJackets a 2-0 advantage. Attempting to put the pressure back on the YellowJackets, Carter Simpson made his penalty kick for Mary Hardin-Baylor. 

Third to kick for the YellowJackets was Enriquez, who completely unfazed by the pressure buried his shot in the back of the net. Putting all the pressure back on the Cru. 

Desperately needing to score Ethan Dacaret stepped into the box to take the shot for UMHB. Launching the shot off of his right foot Dacaret would have his shot denied by Jacquez, who leaping to his left made the most crucial save in his career at LeTourneau. 

Fourth to shoot for the YellowJackets, Carrillo did not disappoint launching the ball past the keeper to send LeTourneau to the ASC tournament championship game for the second time in three years.   

UP NEXT

LeTourneau will remain in Abilene to play in the ASC tournament championship game on Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. the winner of East Texas Baptist and Hardin-Simmons.

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